Eleven Indonesians missing after AHTS capsizes

A search is on off Singapore for 11 people missing after a 1973-built, Singapore registered AHTS, the Ocean Lark, capsized.

At 0950hrs today, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was informed that a passing Singapore-registered supply vessel had rescued two persons from a life raft about 16 nautical miles east of Horsburgh Lighthouse.

The two persons rescued reported that they were from the Singapore-registered Ocean Lark and that it had capsized at about 0500 hrs today. According to the two, there were 13 persons onboard the tugboat. The remaining 11 are still unaccounted for.

A search and rescue operation (SAR) by MPA, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, Republic of Singapore Navy and commercial vessels is currently underway. Assets deployed include a helicopter and patrol vessels. MPA has issued navigational broadcasts to vessels in the vicinity to assist with the SAR. Indonesia's Maritime Rescue Coordination Center has also been informed.

According to reports, all of the 13 crew members of the Ocean Lark are Indonesians. The vessel was on its way from Batam, Indonesia to Matak, also in Indonesia.

The Equasis date base shows that the registered owner of the vessel is Intone Pte Ltd. Intone Pte is a member of the Labroy Group